editorNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Scott Horsley is a White House correspondent for NPR News. He reports on the policy and politics of the Obama Administration, with a special emphasis on economic issues.The 2012 campaign is the third presidential contest Horsley has covered for NPR. He previously reported on Senator John McCain's White House bid in 2008 and Senator John Kerry's campaign in 2004. Thanks to this experience, Horsley has become an expert in the motel shampoo offerings of various battleground states.Horsley took up the White House beat after serving as a San Diego-based business correspondent for NPR where he covered fast food, gasoline prices, and the California electricity crunch of 2000. He reported from the Pentagon during the early phases of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.Before joining NPR in 2001, Horsley was a reporter for member station KPBS-FM, where he received numerous honors, including a Public Radio News Directors' award for coverage of the California energy crisis.Earlier in his career,NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Scott HorsleyThu, 08 Dec 2016 07:48:06 +0000Scott Horsleyhttp://peoriapublicradio.org
Scott HorsleyThe U.S. stock market is up more than 3 percent since Election Day four weeks ago.One person who hasn't benefited: President-elect Donald Trump.In a call with reporters, transition spokesman Jason Miller says Trump sold all of his holdings in the stock market over the summer. The move could remove some, but not all, potential conflicts of interest as the billionaire businessman takes office as president.Even before the sale, stocks accounted for a tiny fraction of Trump's personal fortune. Most of his money is in real estate."I've never been a big investor in the stock market," Trump said this summer in a telephone interview with Fox Business.A financial disclosure form filed in May with the Federal Election Commission showed Trump held individual stocks and stock mutual funds worth tens of millions of dollars. Trump's net worth is estimated to be between $2.9 billion and $10 billion.The news of the June stock sale came after Miller was asked if the president-elect still held shares inTrump Sold Stocks In June, Lifting Some But Not All Conflicts Of Interest http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/trump-sold-stocks-june-lifting-some-not-all-conflicts-interest
68052 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 20:34:00 +0000Trump Sold Stocks In June, Lifting Some But Not All Conflicts Of Interest Scott HorsleyPresident-elect Donald Trump wants to clip the wings of a new Air Force One, saying the customized 747 is too expensive."The plane is totally out of control," Trump told reporters Tuesday morning. "I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money."Earlier in the day, Trump tweeted that the new aircraft would cost more than $4 billion and urged the government to cancel the contract. Neither Trump nor his spokespeople said where that cost estimate came from.Trump's tweet followed an article in the Chicago Tribune suggesting Trump's tough talk on trade could be bad for Boeing's export business.Last year the Air Force struck an agreement with Boeing to deliver two new 747s around 2024, by which time the two planes now in service for presidential travel will be more than 30 years old. The new models will be able to fly about 1,000 miles farther than the current planes. They'll also be slightly larger and faster, but will have aAir Force None? Trump Threatens To Cancel New Presidential Plane Over Costhttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/air-force-none-trump-threatens-cancel-new-presidential-plane-over-cost
68048 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 17:45:00 +0000Air Force None? Trump Threatens To Cancel New Presidential Plane Over CostScott HorsleyFour days. 92 volunteers. And 150 pounds of gingerbread.That's just part of what goes into decorating for the White House for Christmas.Volunteers went to work the day after Thanksgiving, stringing thousands of bow ribbons and crystal ornaments throughout the mansion. Military families got a sneak peak at the decorations this week."As we celebrate my family's last holiday season in the White House, I'm thinking back to when we first came here to Washington and we promised to open up this house to as many people from as many backgrounds as possible," said First Lady Michelle Obama. "We truly wanted to make the White House the 'People's House,' particularly during the holiday seasons.""This is something I've always thought about doing," said Diane Wright, who traveled from Watertown, Connecticut to join the decorating party. "I do my mom's tree for her, so it was more or less a tribute to my mother."Some of the volunteers are expert crafters. Others said they merely follow directionsFor The Holidays, The Obamas Open Up The White House One Last Time http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/holidays-obamas-open-white-house-one-last-time
67920 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgSat, 03 Dec 2016 11:00:00 +0000For The Holidays, The Obamas Open Up The White House One Last Time Scott HorsleyCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit MCEVERS, HOST: President Obama had a message today for President-elect Donald Trump and the incoming administration. Now comes the hard part. Obama took questions from reporters for the first time since the election. He suggested that despite their policy differences, there might be more continuity than many people expect when Trump moves into the White House. NPR's Scott Horsley is with us now to talk about that. Hi, Scott. SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: Hi. MCEVERS: So the news conference comes as the president is preparing to head to Europe where he'll be meeting with a lot of leaders who are anxious about a Trump presidency. What's he going to tell them? HORSLEY: Well, one reason those European leaders are anxious is because of Trump's campaign rhetoric about NATO, questioning whether that military alliance is still relevant, whether the U.S. could be trusted to come to the defense of countries that might not have spent enough money on their ownObama Talks Transition In First Post-Election News Conferencehttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/obama-talks-transition-first-post-election-news-conference
67162 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgMon, 14 Nov 2016 23:19:00 +0000Obama Talks Transition In First Post-Election News ConferenceScott HorsleyCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit CORNISH, HOST: The Affordable Care Act isn't the only piece of President Obama's legacy that could be undone when Donald Trump takes office. The president-elect has vowed to roll back much of what Obama's tried to do both domestically and in foreign policy over the last eight years. And with a friendly Republican Congress, Trump could have a free hand to do just that. Nevertheless the president struck a conciliatory tone as he discussed the election results today. NPR's Scott Horsley reports. SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: When President Obama gets philosophical, he sometimes likens the presidency to a relay race. He was hoping to pass the baton to Hillary Clinton, who'd promised to keep running in much the same direction. Instead he'll give way to Donald Trump, who's promised the opposite. But speaking to reporters at the White House this afternoon, Obama says he'll still try for a smooth handoff. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:Obama Strikes Concillatory Tone In Reaction To Trump Victoryhttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/obama-strikes-concillatory-tone-reaction-trump-victory
66963 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgWed, 09 Nov 2016 23:35:00 +0000Obama Strikes Concillatory Tone In Reaction To Trump VictoryScott HorsleyDonald Trump's presidential campaign, like the business career that preceded it, was unpredictable, undisciplined and unreliable. Despite those qualities — or perhaps, in part, because of them — it was also successful.So what should we expect from President-elect Trump, mindful that his path to the White House has defied expectations at every turn?Some of Trump's ambitions have been clearly telegraphed: He plans to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, deport millions of criminal immigrants, unwind trade deals dating back more than two decades and repeal Obamacare. He has also promised to cut taxes and eliminate numerous government regulations — including power plant rules designed to combat global warming.With the presidential pen and a friendly Republican Congress, Trump should have little trouble delivering on those promises.But Trump's campaign never really revolved around specific policy prescriptions. His agenda is not anchored to ideology but rather shaped by instinctTrump Wins. Now What? http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/trump-wins-now-what
66910 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgWed, 09 Nov 2016 10:28:00 +0000Trump Wins. Now What? Scott HorsleyUpdated at 8:30 p.m. ETIn a letter to several Democratic senators Monday, the Justice Department said it "will continue to work closely with the FBI and together, dedicate all necessary resources and take appropriate steps as expeditiously as possible" regarding the review of thousands of newly discovered emails that may be relevant to the investigation of Hillary Clinton's email server.The letter, signed by Assistant Attorney General Peter Kadzik, came in response to four Senate Democrats who sent the Justice Department a strongly worded letter of their own, pressing for more details about precisely why FBI Director James Comey revived the inquiry into Clinton's emails. That letter was signed by Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee; Dianne Feinstein of California, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee; Tom Carper of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee; and Ben Cardin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the ForeignJustice Department Dedicating 'All Necessary Resources' To Review Emails Quicklyhttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/white-house-wont-second-guess-fbi-directors-judgment
66515 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgMon, 31 Oct 2016 21:21:00 +0000Justice Department Dedicating 'All Necessary Resources' To Review Emails QuicklyScott HorsleyHillary Clinton enters the homestretch of the presidential race with a sizable fundraising lead over Republican rival Donald Trump. Many GOP donors appear to have shifted their giving to down-ballot candidates for House and Senate. And Trump himself has contributed just over half the $100 million he pledged to help bankroll his own campaign.Finance reports filed Thursday show Clinton's campaign raised nearly twice as much money as Trump's in the first 19 days of October and had nearly four times as much cash on hand.Trump himself contributed just $31,000 during the period in the form of rent and other in-kind contributions. That's well below the $2 million he'd given in previous months. While Trump has repeatedly told supporters he's willing to pump $100 million into the campaign, his contributions so far total just over $56 million.CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, OCT. 1-19TRUMP: $28.9 millionCLINTON : $57.2 millionJOINT FUNDRAISING W/ NATIONAL PARTYTRUMP: $61 millionCLINTON: $101 millionCASHWith Days To Go, Clinton Leads In Campaign Cash http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/days-go-clinton-leads-campaign-cash
66392 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgFri, 28 Oct 2016 15:50:00 +0000With Days To Go, Clinton Leads In Campaign Cash Scott HorsleyImagine for a moment that it's Jan. 21, 2017. After a chilly inauguration the day before, the parades and festivities have ended. And the new president of the United States is ready for his or her first day of work."What follows is my 100-day action plan to make America great again," Donald Trump told supporters in Gettysburg, Pa., last weekend. "First I will announce my intention to totally renegotiate NAFTA, one of the worst deals our country has ever made."Trump also promised to withdraw from a proposed Asia-Pacific trade deal that's been in the works. Both those moves would be well within the new president's authority."As a general matter, if the president wants to withdraw from a treaty, he simply gets to do that," said Benjamin Wittes, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "That's part of the powers of the office."Trump would also have the power to deport more than 2 million criminals in the country illegally, halt immigration from parts of the world he calls "terrorThe First 100 Days: What Clinton And Trump Want To Get Donehttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/first-100-days-what-clinton-and-trump-want-get-done
66334 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgThu, 27 Oct 2016 10:00:00 +0000The First 100 Days: What Clinton And Trump Want To Get DoneScott HorsleyPsy-ops in the guest box continues at the third and final presidential debate.Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are both using guest tickets in a calculated effort to rattle their rivals, or at least send a signal to voters watching on TV.The in-your-face guest list includes two billionaire critics of Trump, the mother of a Benghazi victim, and President Obama's Kenya-born half-brother.Trump invited Malik Obama to sit in his silent cheering section after the president's relative endorsed the GOP nominee. He'll be joined by Patricia Smith, the mother of Sean Smith, who died in the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya."I blame Hillary Clinton personally for the death of my son," Patricia Smith said at the GOP convention in July.Clinton's guest list includes two successful business leaders who have criticized Trump. Meg Whitman, the CEO of Hewlett Packard, is a Republican who has nevertheless endorsed and raised money for Clinton. Investor and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban gleefully dissedThird Debate Guests Include Trump Tormentor, Benghazi Mom, Obama Half-Brotherhttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/third-debate-guests-include-trump-tormentor-benghazi-mom-obama-half-brother
66000 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgWed, 19 Oct 2016 16:22:00 +0000Third Debate Guests Include Trump Tormentor, Benghazi Mom, Obama Half-BrotherScott HorsleyLive by the leak, and you may die by the leak.That's the message Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is sending to his fellow Republicans, as he swears off using campaign material that originates with WikiLeaks."Today it is the Democrats. Tomorrow, it could be us," Rubio said in a statement."I will not discuss any issue that has become public solely on the basis of WikiLeaks," added Rubio, who is up for re-election. "As our intelligence agencies have said, these leaks are an effort by a foreign government to interfere with our electoral process, and I will not indulge in it."The warning from the erstwhile presidential candidate comes as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are preparing for their final debate Wednesday night in Las Vegas.WikiLeaks has published a cache of emails stolen from the personal Gmail account of Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta. Some of the emails have proved embarrassing to the Clinton campaign, and Trump has not been shy about using this ammunition.After BloombergMarco Rubio Warns GOP On WikiLeaks: 'Tomorrow, It Could Be Us'http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/marco-rubio-warns-gop-wikileaks-tomorrow-it-could-be-us
65993 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgWed, 19 Oct 2016 14:40:00 +0000Marco Rubio Warns GOP On WikiLeaks: 'Tomorrow, It Could Be Us'Scott HorsleyDemocratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine spoke to a church group in Miami over the weekend.That wouldn't be remarkable except that he spoke entirely in Spanish — a first for a candidate on a major-party ticket."Yo soy cristiano, un católico" ("I'm a Christian, a Catholic") Kaine told parishioners at Pneuma Church at the beginning of his five-minute speech.Kaine described his background working as a missionary in Honduras, where he said he learned lessons about faith, family and hard work.He also described his running mate, Hillary Clinton, as a person of strong faith, noting that Clinton was raised in the Methodist church.Kaine avoided a typical stump speech, saying that would be inappropriate in a church setting. But he urged parishioners to register to vote before Tuesday's deadline."Tenemos una responsibilidad a participar y votar en acuerdo con nuestros valores, verdad?" ("We have a responsibility to participate and vote in accordance with our values, right?") he said.FifteenWatch: VP Candidate Tim Kaine Delivers Full Speech In Spanishhttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/watch-vp-candidate-tim-kaine-delivers-full-speech-spanish
65895 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgMon, 17 Oct 2016 16:53:00 +0000Watch: VP Candidate Tim Kaine Delivers Full Speech In SpanishScott HorsleyFirst lady Michelle Obama joined students from across the country Thursday in picking produce from the White House garden. It's the last such harvest of the Obama era. But the first lady has taken steps to ensure the garden — and the bumper crop of publicity and goodwill it generated — won't disappear once she and her husband leave the White House.The W. Atlee Burpee home gardening company and The Burpee Foundation have contributed $2.5 million to the National Park Foundation to maintain the garden for at least 17 years. The first lady has also added wood, stone, and steel features designed for durability. So whether or not future occupants of the East Wing like Bill Clinton or Melania Trump decide to get their hands dirty in the garden, its future has been cemented on the White House South Lawn.That future was far from assured when Michelle Obama and the family's chef, Sam Kass, hatched a plan for the garden at the Obamas' kitchen table in Chicago."I had plenty of doubts of my own."Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden Will Keep Blooming, Even After She Leaveshttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/michelle-obamas-kitchen-garden-will-keep-blooming-even-after-she-leaves
65456 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgThu, 06 Oct 2016 18:39:00 +0000Michelle Obama's Kitchen Garden Will Keep Blooming, Even After She LeavesScott HorsleySocial Security alone consumes nearly a quarter of the federal budget.At this week's vice presidential debate, Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mike Pence spoke about how the administrations they hope to join would deal with the challenges facing safety net programs like it.Social SecurityThe ChallengeSocial Security is a pay-as-you-go program, in which benefits for retirees and others are largely funded through the payroll taxes collected from current workers. As baby boomers retire, there will be more people drawing benefits out of the system and relatively fewer workers paying in. The Social Security trust fund helps to cushion that gap. But forecasters expect the trust fund will be exhausted in about 20 years. Once that happens, there will still be enough money coming into the system from payroll taxes to cover about 75 percent of retirees' benefits. But in order to keep paying 100 percent, some changes will be needed. The sooner policymakers act, the less drastic those changesThe Issues: Hillary Clinton And Donald Trump On Social Security And Medicare http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/issues-hillary-clinton-and-donald-trump-social-security-and-medicare
65436 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgThu, 06 Oct 2016 09:04:00 +0000The Issues: Hillary Clinton And Donald Trump On Social Security And Medicare Scott HorsleyCopyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit NPR.Leaked Tax Documents Show Trump May Have Legally Avoided Liability. How?http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/leaked-tax-documents-show-trump-may-have-legally-avoided-liability-how
65277 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgMon, 03 Oct 2016 09:14:00 +0000Leaked Tax Documents Show Trump May Have Legally Avoided Liability. How?Scott HorsleyRepublican presidential hopeful Donald Trump renewed his attacks on a former Miss Universe winner Friday, heedless of the possible fallout with women and Latino voters.In a series of tweets posted around 5 a.m. ET, Trump criticized Alicia Machado as "my worst Miss U." and described her as "disgusting."Machado, who is now a telenovela actress, burst into political headlines during Monday's presidential debate, when Hillary Clinton described the way Trump had criticized the beauty contestant years ago for gaining weight after the pageant."He called this woman Miss Piggy. Then he called her Miss Housekeeping because she was Latina," Clinton said. "She has become a U.S. citizen, and you can bet she's going to vote this November."The controversy might have had a short shelf life, had Trump not revived it with daily attacks on Machado. In his latest tweet storm, he references a video made when she was part of a reality TV show. Trump calls it a "sex tape," but according to Snopes.com (linkTrump Again Attacks Former Miss Universehttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/trump-again-attacks-miss-universe-contestant
65184 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgFri, 30 Sep 2016 13:50:00 +0000Trump Again Attacks Former Miss UniverseScott HorsleyThe Arizona Republic has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president — the first time the newspaper has backed a Democrat in its history.The Republic's editorial board writes that Clinton understands what the position demands: "a steady hand, a cool head, and the ability to think carefully before acting." And it pointedly concludes that her Republican rival, Donald Trump, does not.The newspaper acknowledged serious missteps by Clinton, including her use of a personal email server for State Department business and the possibility that Clinton Foundation donors were angling for special access. But the editorial board concluded that Trump's lack of discipline posed a much more serious threat."The president commands our nuclear arsenal. Trump can't command his own rhetoric," the newspaper argues. "Were he to become president, his casual remarks — such as saying he wouldn't defend NATO partners from invasion — could have devastating consequences."The Republic also took aim at Trump's hard-lineArizona Newspaper Breaks With Tradition, Backs Clintonhttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/arizona-newspaper-breaks-tradition-backs-clinton
65078 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgWed, 28 Sep 2016 15:15:00 +0000Arizona Newspaper Breaks With Tradition, Backs ClintonScott HorsleyJordan Weaver was just a kid when Barack Obama was elected eight years ago. But she'll never forget that November night."My biggest memory is us in my living room," said Weaver, who grew up in Harrisburg, Penn. "My mom was crying. She was so happy that a president could be African-American and people accepted him. You could just see that everyone was so excited."Eight years later, Weaver joined thousands of people who turned out to see Obama speak in Philadelphia earlier this week."I don't think people give him enough credit, but I love him," Weaver, now a student at Temple University, said.Jamie Littles brought her young son to the outdoor rally near Philadelphia's Museum of Art so he could see the president for himself."Just so he can get a better understanding of who Obama is and what he means in history for black Americans," Littles said.For Chuck Coleman, as well, it means a lot."For me as an African-American male, it's just a proud moment," said Coleman. "To see him serve and toAmerica's First Black President Nears The End Of A History-Making Runhttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/americas-first-black-president-nears-end-history-making-run
64687 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgSat, 17 Sep 2016 17:05:00 +0000America's First Black President Nears The End Of A History-Making RunScott HorsleyRepublican presidential hopeful Donald Trump offered a bold prediction Thursday that his economic plan will deliver up to 25 million new jobs over the next decade. He described the blueprint as "the most pro-growth, pro-jobs, pro-family plan put forth perhaps in the history of our country."Trump's projections are based on rosy forecasts of the job gains that would result from tax cuts and reduced regulation. He set a goal of 4 percent annual economic growth. And he says that under his plan the U.S. would achieve a minimum of 3.5 percent annual growth over 10 years. The U.S. has not reached a 3.5 percent growth rate since 2004.Speaking to the New York Economic Club, Trump also called for cuts to federal spending, which he says would save the government up to a trillion dollars over the next decade. His proposal would shave 1 percent off the government's discretionary, nondefense spending each year. But since he's excluding programs such as Social Security and Medicare, the cuts wouldTrump Confident He Can Speed Economic Growth To Rate Not Seen In Yearshttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/trump-confident-he-can-speed-economic-growth-rate-not-seen-years
64593 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgThu, 15 Sep 2016 19:14:00 +0000Trump Confident He Can Speed Economic Growth To Rate Not Seen In YearsScott HorsleyFormer Secretary of State Colin Powell used a personal computer connected to a private telephone line to send and receive emails to staffers, friends and foreign leaders without having to go through State Department servers.Powell shared that experience with Hillary Clinton two days after she took over as secretary of state. Powell cautioned Clinton to "be very careful," lest her emails be discovered and become part of the official State Department record."I got around it by not saying much and not using systems that captured the data," Powell wrote to Clinton in January of 2009.The advice from Powell was referenced in an FBI report released last week, and the former secretary's full email exchange with Clinton was made public Wednesday by Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.Cummings said it demonstrates that Clinton's reliance on a personal email account for government business — which has become a flashpoint in her presidential campaign — isColin Powell's Ways Around Disclosure Detailed In New Emailhttp://peoriapublicradio.org/post/colin-powells-ways-around-disclosure-detailed-new-email
64277 as http://peoriapublicradio.orgThu, 08 Sep 2016 18:09:00 +0000Colin Powell's Ways Around Disclosure Detailed In New Email